How to Deal with Dead Debris After Laser Resurface?

Always follow any post op instructions from your physician - I generally use the following guidelines:


When washing your face, use a gentle, non soap cleanser (such as Cetaphil®). You can wash as early as the evening following your treatment

Most skin care products can be used three weeks after treatment; however, avoid use of retinoids and topical corticosteroids for two weeks following treatment and avoid systemic steroids throughout the course of your Fraxel® treatments

Apply a neutral barrier cream without alpha hydroxy acids (such as Aquaphor®) as often as needed to help treat itching, dryness, flaking and dry crusting. These symptoms will gradually disappear

Use a sunscreen with an SPF of 25 or higher daily


The aftercare is as important as the treatment.

Best

Dear Patient,

In response to your question about dead debris after resurfacing laser, it is not a simple answer. In general, the best advice is to take gentle care recommended by your laser surgeon. This usually means cleansing with gentle face cleanser (i.e., cetephil) and regularly hydrating with moisturizers (i.e., aquaphor or cetaphil cream). However, if it has been longer then a week after procedure and the crusts (dead debris) is still on top of the skin, you may gently exfoliate it with soft face towel. The debris does not generally induce acne flares. Acne flares post-laser may be due to temporary disruption of hair pores and are treatable by your skin surgeon. Good luck.